hqcreations:hqcreations:Harvesting My Fava Beans and GreensFava beans (aka broad beans) should be in
hqcreations:hqcreations:Harvesting My Fava Beans and GreensFava beans (aka broad beans) should be in your top 5 of foods/seeds to keep around for emergency scenarios. Here’s why this legume is a badass: ===========Nitrogen fixer: Fertilizes the soil as it grows. In fact, fava beans have some of the highest rates of nitrogen fixing of any cover crop.Multiple edible parts: Other than the beans, yes, the leaves are edible. You can eat it raw, but I prefer a quick stir fry with garlic. It got a meaty texture like spinach without the ironiness. As for the beans, some people even pick the super young and tender pods to eat them whole.Health benefits: High in fiber, diverse in minerals, low in sodium, high in carbs…which in my case is GOOD!!! I need that energy for my active lifestyle, but fava beans don’t weigh you down like a potato.Cooking versatility: Fried it, stew it, mash it, grill it, ferment it. Eat it raw. Good sub for some potato dishes.Long Term Storage: Fava beans dry very well and be easily stored for winter and long term usage.===========In closing, fava beans are delicious and I will fight you if you disagree! Unless you have a genetic sensitivity to fava beans, in which case I feel bad for you…New types of fava bean seeds:Since I started growing fava beans about three years ago, I’ve only ever planted store-bought beans as seeds. Last year, I found two new types of fava beans.The beans in the center - the ones that are about the size of my thumb print - are commonly find in the dried legume section of most US supermarkets. The mega ones to the left - almost double the size of my thumb - I found in a Indian supermarket, but had no information on the cultivar. The tiny cute beans to the far right I found at a Greek supermarket.Everything germinated! These were fun to grow, but I was bit bummed out that the flowers were still the standard white with black splotches. I was really hoping for a funkier looking blossom. -- source link